Smoking cigarettes (5 Viewers)

[Long Ball Larry]

God I love it, though I only smoke when I am drinking and not all the time, but Jesus Christ it is so good. I know that it is ****ing horrible but I keep it very minimal. Anyone else out there still smoking, even occasionally?

 

[rockaction]

One of them leads to at least a pack of them a day for me, so I can't say I still enjoy the occasional cigarette. I'm so much better off without them, and I wish I could do what you're doing, but I can't.

 

[Master of Subservience]

Makes life worth living, as my mom would say.

I don't smoke cigarettes that often but that's because I'm vaping or patching or gumming or some other, inferior form of nicotine transmission. I love smoking and miss it dearly, probably because I was introduced to it in the womb by the aforementioned mom. Every few months or years something stressful or reward-worthy enough will happen that I talk myself into buying a pack. The psychology and self-deception that goes into it is really trippy and scary and interesting.

I'm told it's very unique psychophamacologically in that it's a relaxing stimulant, which kind of captures the feeling perfectly. Keyed-up and mellow simultaneously.

I quit drinking 15 years ago and don't miss it at all, but I have a feeling the cigarette siren song will always be with me. Nothing beats it, really, except, you know, living.

 

[rustycolts]

Yes I still smoke and yes I do enjoy it. Wish I could quit but that's a no go. I've stopped everything else that's bad for me but cigarettes have me by the go- nads . I've smoked for over 50 years so the damage is already done.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Never cared for it. Even as a kid when all my friends smoked. I think the smell is gross too

 

[Max Power]

My FIL traded smoking for vaping a couple years ago. Personally its nice not to be around smoke, but he has a vape in his hand most of the day and almost seems to spend more time with it than he did when he smoked.

 

[rockaction]

Yes I still smoke and yes I do enjoy it. Wish I could quit but that's a no go. I've stopped everything else that's bad for me but cigarettes have me by the go- nads . I've smoked for over 50 years so the damage is already done.

Dear God, rustycolts, I seriously nearly cry every time I hear a person express that. No scold, no BS. I’ll be praying for all y’all. I mean it. I got lucky with Chantix about a little over a decade ago with a relapse or two for like a few days each time. The meds just . . . worked.

So I ain’t better than anyone, and that isn’t where my grief or me urging one last try to quit comes from because I know that hopeless feeling. I feel at times like I’m Orpheus, only I never had to look back at Eurydice to make sure she was there. I just walked right out of hell, I guess.

eta* I thought it was Persephone. Persephone is the goddess moved enough to let Orpheus take his love Eurydice out of Hades.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

I quit cold turkey in 2004 when we decided to have kids. It wasn’t easy. I gained a ton of weight at the time. A few years ago I started smoking cigars with my neighbor and now probably smoke about 10 each year. I stick to the smaller gauge cigars - the Churchills are just way too much nicotine for me to absorb in one evening. My buddy typically smokes several cigs while we have our cigars going — :hardcore:

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

I have never smoked, but watching "Mad Men" made it tempting.

 

[Frostillicus]

Interesting timing. I only smoke two weekends every year and this weekend coming up is one of them. I go up to my parent's cabin and help them and several other cabin oweners put in or take out their docks and boat lifts and everyone smokes up there so I limit it to these two weekends and it works for me. Because I ****ing love smoking. Knowing I have these two weekends makes it easy for me to not smoke at all during the other 50 weeks of the year. I don't know if this would work for everybody, but it works for me.

 

[SWC]

brohans as someone who has lost a lot of good buddies to cancer and with absolutely no judgment whatsoever all i can do is ask respectfully that you all quit your families might thank you someday take that to the bank brohans

 

[AAABatteries]

Interesting timing - I’m 51 and never smoked anything in my life until last night. Had a cigar with my adult son around the fire pit. It was fine but have no intention of making it even a semi-regular thing. Maybe once or twice a year I could see it.

 

[dozer]

I quit in 2002. None since. Still get the urge when these triggers occur: Waking up. With coffee. While drinking. After meals. After the hibbidy-bibbidy. When on the phone. When I smell a cigarette two cars ahead at a stop light. When responding on a forum. It’s a tough kick.

 

[The Longtime Lurker]

Smoked in my teens and 20s, quit in my early 30s. Watched my grandmother, who i was super close with die of lung cancer from smoking and was her caregiver throughout her battle. Wish to god i never picked up something as awful as that, but really glad i saw the light when i did. Sunflower seeds, lots of Sunflower seeds helped with the physical dependencies and pretty much quit cold turkey. Drinking was the real difficulty in quitting, it's like peanut butter and jelly. Quitting drinking made that easier, go figure. YMMV.

 

[General Malaise]

I have never smoked, but watching "Mad Men" made it tempting.

I did smoke but quit in 1999. I started watching "The Bear" when it first came out and the craving I had to run out and buy a pack of smokes was fierce. I didn't, but the stress of that show made it awfully tempting to race out to Rite-Aid for a pack of Camel Lights.

 

[Judge Smails]

Cigar at our annual Ryder Cup golf outing but that’s about it. A few a year. Never had a cigarette. Did dip one time in college. Took a big double pinch of Cope in the on deck circle. Bad mistake. Head was spinning. 3 whiffs and sat back down. Tossed the tin.

 

[brun]

Haven't smoked in decades. Wish I could get my son to quit.
Blown away by the cost. I remember buying a carton at the commissary for just over $2 back in the 60s.
GL to anyone trying to quit.

 

[urbanhack]

I try not to judge...but man, cigarettes are one of the things I despise most. The second hand smoke, the littering, it's just gross.

 

[FarFromHome]

Yes I still smoke and yes I do enjoy it. Wish I could quit but that's a no go. I've stopped everything else that's bad for me but cigarettes have me by the go- nads . I've smoked for over 50 years so the damage is already done.

Lots of quiters in here screaming about health concerns, so it's glad read about someone who stays strong. Ha ha. I smoked for decades. Starting vaping 8 years ago and haven't had a cigarette since. I smell cigarette smoke now and it makes me nauseous. I use the Smok Novo device. Never vape more then a capful of liquid a day. Like you, I gave up all the other stuff like alcohol and weed. I take care of myself outside of my capful of liquid vape a day. My wife, a nurse, HATES it. I ain't quiting. Ha ha

 

[SWC]

its funny how some smells can trigger great memories for me one of them is hipocritically the smell of swisher sweet cigars which my pop smoked when i was younger allegedly to keep the mosquitos away when we were fishing and to me that is the smell of the best days of my life with my dad when we were both still young enough to not have let all the stuff that growing up makes get in the way of just loving eachother and the other smell is mildew which is what our cabin up north smelled like every spring when we opened it up and which goes hand in hand with fishing and the best memories of my life take that to the bank brohans

 

[General Malaise]

I try not to judge...but man, cigarettes are one of the things I despise most. The second hand smoke, the littering, it's just gross.

I agree. Not sure why we as a society ever thought it was perfectly acceptable to just throw our cigarette butts anywhere we wanted without considering it litter but they are horrible for the planet and critters and water ways. Plus with the risk of wildfires out west, the idea of just tossing a lit butt out the window in the summer is incredibly dangerous.

 

[The Longtime Lurker]

its funny how some smells can trigger great memories for me one of them is hipocritically the smell of swisher sweet cigars which my pop smoked when i was younger allegedly to keep the mosquitos away when we were fishing and to me that is the smell of the best days of my life with my dad when we were both still young enough to not have let all the stuff that growing up makes get in the way of just loving eachother and the other smell is mildew which is what our cabin up north smelled like every spring when we opened it up and which goes hand in hand with fishing and the best memories of my life take that to the bank brohans

Man, same. Swishers and trout fishing. That's a smell i haven't thought about in a long time, but I'll bet one whiff and I'm back on the banks of the Escanaba chasing brookies.

Eta. Take that to the bank of the trout stream.

 

[rustycolts]

I try not to judge...but man, cigarettes are one of the things I despise most. The second hand smoke, the littering, it's just gross.

I agree. Not sure why we as a society ever thought it was perfectly acceptable to just throw our cigarette butts anywhere we wanted without considering it litter but they are horrible for the planet and critters and water ways. Plus with the risk of wildfires out west, the idea of just tossing a lit butt out the window in the summer is incredibly dangerous.

Got to field strip those bad boys,put the remains in your pocket. Police up enough cigarette butts and that's the only way you do it.

 

[nirad3]

My FIL traded smoking for vaping a couple years ago. Personally its nice not to be around smoke, but he has a vape in his hand most of the day and almost seems to spend more time with it than he did when he smoked.

My wife smoked from when she was in HS all the way until she was pregnant with our first (so about 15 years ago). She, too, traded in the cancer sticks for vaping, and instead of the occasional "smoke break" on the back patio, she just has her little "smoker" with her all throughout the day and hits it every so often.

I think I can probably count how many cigarettes I've had in my life on my two hands, maybe more if you count those Swisher Sweet bad boys.

 

[Ilov80s]

I sure did enjoy it but can’t go back even for a dabble. Worried it will suck me all the way back in. Also when you aren’t a smoker, the post smoke smell is one of the grossest things in the world.

 

[cosjobs]

We had finally completely quit, but when my life turned upside down a few months ago we gradually started back, While moving across the countrY with my wife and two dogs we went back full bore (pack a day between the two of us}.
I got a Chantix prescription today and wife got some Wellbutrin. bAck to the joy of kicking again this week. last time, chantix, patches and lozenges help me quit the smoke, then gradually wean off all those. Took about 3 months
sigh

 

[cosjobs]

I always wanted to smoke. I was born in 1955 and it was highly encouraged. Even doctors on tv were still pimping it as a digestive aid and there were more cigarette commercials than all of today's Progressive, Allstate, and all prescription drugs combined. My non-smoking parents hosted regular domino (42) parties at the house with 5-6 other couples. Each table had an ashtray and I'd always sit behind to guy smoking Salems, especially when he fired one up with his zippo lighter. I loved that aroma. My best friend gave me a Marlboro in the AstroWorld (the wonderful world of fun! fun! fun!) restroom. It was so much fun I bought my own, He passed away last month, but that was likely due more to his lifelong meth habit. He was 70. Funeral is a couple of weeks away, but unsure if I'll attend. He became estranged from me a couple years ago because I was an unrepentant democrat. Weird. He'd known that my whole life. Our dads were great friends and I knew him forever. One of my all-time best friend, despite some significant differences and preferences. Its a troubling decision for me. I always loved that *******, and I don't know if it would be appropriate to attend, since at last contact he hated me. wwjd?
And I'm afraid vap[ing is at least as unhealthy than smoking, if not moreso.
tldr

 

[Ministry of Pain]

God I love it, though I only smoke when I am drinking and not all the time, but Jesus Christ it is so good. I know that it is ****ing horrible but I keep it very minimal. Anyone else out there still smoking, even occasionally?

Night clubs outside on the rooftop deck listening to vinyl dance tunes, yes I love a good Marlboro or Camel if anyone has them around
I don't see as many smokers these days and alcohol definitely makes them more enjoyable
I prefer joints and was happy when I was in NYC they have designated areas where you can step outside and light up and still be inside the club

 

[SpurrierisisGod]

Im a fidegeter. Got to have something in my hands (insert joke here). I tried the vape thing back before it got cool and I found it hot it more than smoking and we still weren't sure about it.

One day I'll quit. Today isnt the day and tomorrow isnt either unfortunately. Been trying to eat healthier and wake up early for walks etc. Just like college, I can smoke and still exercise. Kind of a weird thing like I dont get hangovers.

I know its horrible. I know I stink. But nothing cures my boredom like stepping out for a smoke.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

I try not to judge...but man, cigarettes are one of the things I despise most. The second hand smoke, the littering, it's just gross.

I agree. Not sure why we as a society ever thought it was perfectly acceptable to just throw our cigarette butts anywhere we wanted without considering it litter but they are horrible for the planet and critters and water ways. Plus with the risk of wildfires out west, the idea of just tossing a lit butt out the window in the summer is incredibly dangerous.

I agree with the litter and I always always toss my butts in an appropriate receptacle. And I agree that second hand smoke does kind of suck if you’re not smoking.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

One of them leads to at least a pack of them a day for me, so I can't say I still enjoy the occasional cigarette. I'm so much better off without them, and I wish I could do what you're doing, but I can't.

I’ve never really understood it, but I never had any issues with this. I dabbled in high school and then for a short period of time in college I would smoke a cigarette with a cup of coffee every couple of days. I barely smoked during the few years after college and then when my daughter was born, I was 100% off for like 7 or 8 years. Picked it up again after getting separated and was going out a bit more and would have like one per week. Did that for about a year, then totally stopped for like 12 years, until earlier this year when something made me want to bum one while out at a bar. I still only have a few per month, but I do think I should work out an exit strategy. I will say that American spirit is probably the only thing I can handle now. Was out at the Eagles bar in town for the opener vs the cowboys and this drunken obnoxious eagles fan wanted me to smoke a Marlboro red with him, so I did, not thinking much about it, and I thought I was going to die the next day.

Cool story, bro

 

[DA RAIDERS]

My dad smoked camel unfiltered for 40 years. He died at 51.

Smoking is nasty. GL peeeeaaaassss

 

[jhib]

its funny how some smells can trigger great memories for me one of them is hipocritically the smell of swisher sweet cigars which my pop smoked when i was younger allegedly to keep the mosquitos away when we were fishing and to me that is the smell of the best days of my life with my dad when we were both still young enough to not have let all the stuff that growing up makes get in the way of just loving eachother and the other smell is mildew which is what our cabin up north smelled like every spring when we opened it up and which goes hand in hand with fishing and the best memories of my life take that to the bank brohans

Yeah, it's weird. I absolutely hate the smell of most smoke in most every situation, whether it be cigarette, cigar, or weed. And yet, I can tolerate pipe smell for a little while because it reminds me of a great old man I knew when I was a kid. And the light smell of cigarettes in the air outside on a summer night reminds me of great nights on the boardwalk on the Jersey shore. Any other situation, change any factor, and I find it disgusting.

 

[SpurrierisisGod]

Its a vice everyone will say is disgusting without taking into account their own vice(s). I know it smells bad and is horrible for my health but so is eating a slice of cake or eating ice cream every day. Its visible and quantifiable.

Sure ice cream doesn't make your clothes smell like **** but everyone has a horse to get off of. I dont see how many bowls you eat but everyone sees me on a smoke break.

 

[SpurrierisisGod]

As an aside though...

The gas stations near me have been giving away Zyn with every tobacco purchase for like a month. I've gotten enough that I've given my boss some and still probably have like 8 cans of the stuff. The plan is to clean out my car and not smoke in it (which is a huge thing for me as I know how many cigs I can have before arrival anywhere in the city/county).

Im going to try to use them at work rather than stepping out to have a smoke but its the ACT for me so I'll see how that goes.

I think we are going to find that vaping is at least as bad, if not worse, when long term studies come out. Hopefully i'm wrong but vaping doesn't cure the crave for me.

 

[rockaction]

I always wanted to smoke. I was born in 1955 and it was highly encouraged. Even doctors on tv were still pimping it as a digestive aid and there were more cigarette commercials than all of today's Progressive, Allstate, and all prescription drugs combined. My non-smoking parents hosted regular domino (42) parties at the house with 5-6 other couples. Each table had an ashtray and I'd always sit behind to guy smoking Salems, especially when he fired one up with his zippo lighter. I loved that aroma. My best friend gave me a Marlboro in the AstroWorld (the wonderful world of fun! fun! fun!) restroom. It was so much fun I bought my own, He passed away last month, but that was likely due more to his lifelong meth habit. He was 70. Funeral is a couple of weeks away, but unsure if I'll attend. He became estranged from me a couple years ago because I was an unrepentant democrat. Weird. He'd known that my whole life. Our dads were great friends and I knew him forever. One of my all-time best friend, despite some significant differences and preferences. Its a troubling decision for me. I always loved that *******, and I don't know if it would be appropriate to attend, since at last contact he hated me. wwjd?
And I'm afraid vap[ing is at least as unhealthy than smoking, if not moreso.
tldr

Man, cos . . . bless you, man.

I'd go to his services, but I get it. Something just happened and I'll never understand it, but we're still going through it. I don't see why. I don't think I've changed in the least. I wonder how many of my friends in D.C. would count me as an ex-friend like your friend counted you. One thing I'd caution you to do is think about who he shared his feelings with. You don't want to waste your time by showing up and having other people make you feel like garbage when you already feel like garbage. That's not fair to you and I guess it's a way of respecting his last wishes.

It's so ****ty. I'm sorry about that and my condolences on your loss.

 

[cosjobs]

I always wanted to smoke. I was born in 1955 and it was highly encouraged. Even doctors on tv were still pimping it as a digestive aid and there were more cigarette commercials than all of today's Progressive, Allstate, and all prescription drugs combined. My non-smoking parents hosted regular domino (42) parties at the house with 5-6 other couples. Each table had an ashtray and I'd always sit behind to guy smoking Salems, especially when he fired one up with his zippo lighter. I loved that aroma. My best friend gave me a Marlboro in the AstroWorld (the wonderful world of fun! fun! fun!) restroom. It was so much fun I bought my own, He passed away last month, but that was likely due more to his lifelong meth habit. He was 70. Funeral is a couple of weeks away, but unsure if I'll attend. He became estranged from me a couple years ago because I was an unrepentant democrat. Weird. He'd known that my whole life. Our dads were great friends and I knew him forever. One of my all-time best friend, despite some significant differences and preferences. Its a troubling decision for me. I always loved that *******, and I don't know if it would be appropriate to attend, since at last contact he hated me. wwjd?
And I'm afraid vap[ing is at least as unhealthy than smoking, if not moreso.
tldr

Man, cos . . . bless you, man.

I'd go to his services, but I get it. Something just happened and I'll never understand it, but we're still going through it. I don't see why. I don't think I've changed in the least. I wonder how many of my friends in D.C. would count me as an ex-friend like your friend counted you. One thing I'd caution you to do is think about who he shared his feelings with. You don't want to waste your time by showing up and having other people make you feel like garbage when you already feel like garbage. That's not fair to you and I guess it's a way of respecting his last wishes.

It's so ****ty. I'm sorry about that and my condolences on your loss.

Thanks my friend. You get it. I'd love to honor and remember a dear friend of 65 years, but if he poisoned the well with his family for me, I don't want to cause any weirdness at the memorial. It's a dilemma.
I'll add that add the extremely extreme behavior from him was when dementia had taken a stronghold a few years back.

 

[shuke]

Smoked for years, it was like a part of just who I was. Quit all nicotine for good about 16 years ago and so glad I finally did. I do miss it sometimes when I see people doing it. Have had a few here and there and it just makes me feel like crap.

It's amazing how many people were smoking back in the 80's/90's compared to now. We were watching some home videos recently, and it was Thanksgiving at my grandparents' house. There was a scene of a bunch of us sitting around the dining room table, maybe a dozen of us, and like 7 of us were smoking. Watching now and seeing the amount of smoke in the room was disgusting.